With a politically-motivated Elections Commission (EC), Malaysians face the dirtiest general elections in history. As all other efforts to clean up the electoral process has failed, civil society has no other choice but to group under Bersih to involve all Malaysians to press for clean elections in the Bersih sit in protest tomorrow.

I am therefore compelled to publicly chastise Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz’s irresponsible remarks opposing Bersih’s right to assemble peacefully and conduct a sit-in protest at Dataran Merdeka at 2pm 28.4.2012 to press for clean, free, fair and independent elections. Tunku’s remarks is not the DAP stand but his own personal view. Senator Tunku is alone amongst the entire DAP Central Executive Committee in his stand on Bersih 3.0 at Dataran Merdeka.

The Denial Of The Basic Democratic Principle Of One-Person, One-Vote Is Another Reason, Apart From Phantom Voters And Irregularities In The Electoral Roll, Why Malaysians Should Mobilise In Full Force For The Sit-In Bersih Protest On 2pm 28 April At Dataran Merdeka To Press For Clean, Free, Fair And Independent Elections.

The denial of the basic democratic principle of one-person, one-vote is another reason, apart from phantom voters and irregularities in the electoral roll, why Malaysians should mobilise in full force for the sit-in Bersih protest on 2pm 28 April 2012 at Dataran Merdeka to press for clean, free, fair and independent elections. Election watchdog NGO Tindak Malaysia, had provided irrefutable evidence that the Election Commission’s (EC) biasedness towards BN by gerrymandering and manipulating electoral boundaries until a rural voter is effect worth an average of six urban voters, as BN is stronger in the rural areas.

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 26.4.2012..

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhydin Yassin in his visit to Penang today should direct Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya and the Penang Port Commission (PPC) Chairman Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek to make a full and unconditional apology to the Hindu community for demolishing the 50 year old Hindu shrine and rebuild the shrine immediately before the next general elections. The demolition of the shrine on 20 April at the Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal in the Prai Industrial Area, shocked devotees as it was done by PPSB without any demolition notice pasted on the shrine.

Whilst the Penang state government welcomes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recent announcement of RM 8.5 million in development funds to the Nibong Tebal Parlimentary constituency, many Penangites are disappointed that he did not give the same amount to each of the other 12 Parliamentary constituencies in Penang. Such discrimination against the other 12 parliamentary constituencies, including BN areas, is regrettable as it gives the impression that only Nibong Tebal parliamentary constituency matters for BN at the next general elections.

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 25.4.2012.

Transport Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha Should Step In If No Apology Is Forthcoming From Both Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya And The Penang Port Commission (PPC) Chairman Datuk Seri Chua Soi And The Demolished Muniswarar Shrine Is Not Rebuilt Before The Next General Elections.

When will Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya and the Penang Port Commission (PPC) Chairman Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek fully apologise to the Hindu community for the demoliton of the 50 year old Hindu shrine and fulfill their promise to rebuild it? Why no follow up as just how long does it take to rebuild a Hindu shrine on a small 6.1m X 6.1 m site.

Malaysians are baffled once again by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s wild fantasy that Malaysians have high regards for our local education system.

Muhyiddin is said to have made this statement in light of a recent survey by Introspek Asia, which apparently revealed that 55 per cent of Malaysian adults believe that our education system is comparable to other countries, while 35 per cent said it is “better than that of developed countries”.

Previously, Muhyiddin had selectively quoted part of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index Report 2011-2012, and used it as basis to prove that the quality of education in Malaysia is better than that in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. If this is the case, then he should answer why there is not a single Malaysian Nobel Prize winner and why is there not a single Malaysian university ranked amongst the Top 200 Universities in the world? Or when given the choice, why do more Malaysian students choose to study in the US, UK and Germany rather than in Malaysian universities?

Press Statement of the Announcement of Penang Learning Centre and Penang Badminton Academy at Kampung Buah Pala by YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang at Komtar on 24th April 2012

The 2.9 acres of state owned land is located near Kampung Buah Pala in Sri Delima and Bukit Glugor. The built up area of the Penang Learning Centre and Penang Badminton Academy will occupy 1 acre. Upon completion, the 2 buildings will be handed back to the state government, who will then manage the 2 buildings.

The RM4 million Penang Learning Centre (PLC) and Penang Badminton Academy (PBA) will take 18 months to complete. A library, 7 classrooms for tuition and language classes, 6 – 8 badminton courts and a canteen will be provided. Amongst the languages focused on will be foreign languages apart from Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil. Users will be able to have their meals and refreshments within the buildings.

Penang state government celebrates its first ever Penang Wesak Day Celebrations at Dewan Sri Pinang to honour the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha 2,556 years ago. Today’s event is part of the program of the newly-established Non-Muslim Religious Affairs EXCO portfolio headed by me. Themed ‘Patriotism and Religious Harmony for a United Malaysia’, the celebration, which will take place two weeks before the actual Wesak Day on May 5, will trace the history of Buddha.

The event is open to all Malaysians and seeks to promote understanding and respect of each other’s different religious beliefs. As George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage City, Penang is the perfect platform for a diverse eco-system that allows all religions and cultures to flourish and co-exist in harmony. I wish to thank the Malaysian Buddhist Association under its President Ven Ren Yi and Dato Steven Ooi for working with Komtar ADUN YB Ng Wei Aik to make this event a success.

Speech By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng At The “Justice For Sri Lankan Tamils” Ceramah In MPSP Padang In Butterworth, Penang On 21.4.2012 Released On 22.4.2012.

Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) And The Penang Port Commission (PPC) Should Fully Apologise to The Hindu Community for The Disrespect And Religious Sacrilege In The Demoliton Of The 50 Year Old Hindu Temple/Shrine In Their Premise Without Notice And Pay Full Compensation By Giving Land And Funds For Its Rebuilding.

We gather here to condemn the oppression of Sri Lankan Tamils and oppose the ethnic cleansing of Tamils by the Sri Lankan government. Whilst we seek justice in the interests of humanity for Sri Lankan Tamils, we must also seek justice for the freedom of religion of our local Hindu population.

At around 2.45am yesterday morning, a bunch of thugs descended upon the group of university students peacefully assembling at Dataran Merdeka and assaulted them, resulting in one student ending up in hospital. Besides physically roughing the students up, the thugs also destroyed the tents that the students were camping in.

The group of student activists had been camping peacefully at Dataran Merdeka for 6 days now, in an attempt to exercise their democratic rights to protest against what they claim to be high interest rates and administrative charges imposed by the national educational loan fund (PTPTN).

The barbaric use of violence against peacefully assembling students has drawn immediate condemnation from all quarters, including human rights groups and Malaysians at large. Since when have thuggery and gangsterism become part of our culture? It is indeed a sad day when our children who are merely trying to express their democratic rights are victimised in such an ugly and violent manner.

SPEECH BY PENANG CHIEF MINISTER LIM GUAN ENG AT THE PRIVATE SCREENING OF THE HABITAT DOCUMENTARY FILM – “URBANIZED” ON 19 APRIL 2012, 11AM AT GSC, GURNEY PLAZA, PENANG

I would like to welcome all of you to this screening of the documentary “Urbanized” by Gary Hustwit, brought to you today by Penang Institute in conjunction with Think City.

This new documentary film is currently being screened and discussed in many places around the world. Not only does this film highlight many of the serious challenges that face an increasingly urban world, it also shows how some of these problems are addressed.

Press Statement by the Chief Minister of Penang and Chairman of Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang(PBAPP) Lim Guan Eng at KOMTAR, George Town on 18th April 2012.

For the first time in nine years, Penang has recorded a drop in domestic water consumption. In 2010, our per capita domestic consumption was 291 litres/capita/day (l/c/d) as compared to the national average of 203 l/c/d. In 2011, Penang’s per capita domestic consumption was 285 l/c/d. This is equivalent to a reduction of 1.9%, or 3.2 billion litres.

As a a water-stressed state with the highest per capita domestic consumption in Malaysia in 2010, Penang desperately needed to cut down on water wastage and water consumption. NGOs had said that Penang suffered the highest water consumption because Penangites enjoyed the lowest water tariffs and did not value water.

Reports yesterday indicated that billionaire industrialist Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary and Sunway Bhd have submitted a proposal to acquire 330 acres of prime real estate controlled by Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS), which includes two 18-hole golf courses with a commercial value estimated at over RM 5 billion. It is learnt that Perspective Lane (M) Sdn Bhd, a private investment vehicle controlled by Syed Mokhtar, and Sunway City Sdn Bhd, had submitted a plan late last year to the Federal government.

Even though KGNS president Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas has denied that Syed Moktar is involved, an application appears to be submitted by some parties to acquire the 330 acres land site. To verify whether these reports are true, the Prime Minister needs to give a full explanation to uphold accountability in the interests of the public as well as the club members. Once again, it would appear that not only is a multi-billion ringgit privatisation deal being conducted without open competitive tenders, but it also appears to be another potential land grab similar to what is happening with the MRT project on heritage areas in Kuala Lumpur.

Tamil New Year And Vasakhi New Year Message By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 14.4.2012.

Monthly Minimum Wage Of RM 1,100 Inclusive of Allowances, Must Be Accompanied By Accelerated Structural Reforms in Our Economy, Create More Higher Productivity Jobs, And Increasing Women Participation In The Work Force.

Malaysians have high expectations of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announcing the long-awaited minimum monthly wage of RM 1,100 (inclusive of allowances) on May Day. Even though the Prime Minister was forced to do so to counter Pakatan Rakyat’s demands to face the coming general elections, DAP would welcome any announcement by the Prime Minister of RM 1,100 monthly minimum wage, inclusive of allowances.